William Shakespeare
(1564-1616), Dramatist and poetSitter associated with 107 portraits
The most celebrated English playwright and poet, Shakespeare is held as one of the greatest writers of all time. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, he spent most of his working life in London, first as an actor, then a playwright. Whereas many poets of the time were wealthy amateurs, dramatists were usually professionals whose income came from supplying plays to the public theatres and court. The texts of plays belonged to the theatres and were seen as ephemeral, soon to be replaced. The publication of Ben Jonson's Workes in 1616, and in 1623 his own Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, Tragedies (the 'First Folio'), were milestones in the recognition of plays as lasting, influential works of literature.
Explore the Shakespeare Duck portrait (NPG D48052) from all angles | the Lego Shakespeare portrait (NPG D48054) from all angles | the Derby Porcelain Factory Shakespeare portrait (NPG D48654) from all angles | the William Shakespeare portrait bust (NPG D48655) from all angles
Watch a film clip on the sitter in the Media section below
after Unknown English artist
photograph, (circa 1820-1840)
NPG D41640
by James Heath, published by Jones & Co, probably after John Taylor
stipple engraving, published 1822
NPG D4071
Unknown gentleman, possibly Sir Thomas Overbury, previously known as William Shakespeare
by Robert Cooper, published by Sherwood, Jones & Co, after Richard Earlom, after Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist
mezzotint, published June 1825
NPG D41649
by Charles Turner
mezzotint, circa 1825-1850
NPG D18898
William Shakespeare with Lucretia and Collatinus
by Richard Sawyer, after William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1827 (1655)
NPG D22940
by Benjamin Holl, published by Abraham Wivell, after Laurence Hilliard
stipple engraving, published 1827 (circa 1620)
NPG D25481
Unknown man, possibly a poet, formerly known as William Shakespeare
by William Holl Sr, published by Abraham Wivell
line engraving, published 1827 (circa 1600)
NPG D25482
by William Holl Sr, published by and after Abraham Wivell
stipple engraving, published 1827
NPG D41650
William Shakespeare's interview with Queen Elizabeth I
by William Ensom, after Thomas Stothard
etching and line engraving, 1828
NPG D41664
published by T.H. Ellis, after John Taylor
line and stipple engraving, mid 19th century (circa 1610)
NPG D40744
Unknown gentleman, possibly Sir Thomas Overbury, previously known as William Shakespeare
published by Richard Griffin & Co, after Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist
line engraving, mid 19th century (circa 1610)
NPG D41653
by G.F. Storm
mezzotint, mid 19th century
NPG D19795
William Shakespeare before Sir Thomas Lucy for Shooting his Deer
by James Egan, after Alexander Chisholm
mezzotint, (exhibited 1834)
NPG D41662
by T.W. Harland, after Laurence Hilliard
stipple engraving, 1840 (circa 1620)
NPG D25483
by Benjamin Holl, published by George Virtue, after Jacobus Houbraken
stipple engraving, published 1840
NPG D32618
by Samuel Cousins, after a painting attributed to John Taylor
mezzotint, published June 1849 (circa 1610)
NPG D40739
by Richard Austin Artlett, after a painting attributed to John Taylor
line and stipple engraving, circa 1850-1873 (circa 1610)
NPG D40740
published by W.N. Wright, after a painting attributed to Richard Burbage (Burbadge)
lithograph, published 4 June 1851
NPG D41641
by Richard James Lane, after Thomas Baxter
lithograph, 1853
NPG D21778
by Richard James Lane, printed by M & N Hanhart, after Thomas Baxter
lithograph, published February 1853
NPG D21779
by Sir George Scharf, after a painting attributed to John Taylor
lithograph, circa 1856 (circa 1610)
NPG D40741
by James Faed the Elder, published by Henry Graves & Co, after John Faed
mezzotint, published 20 June 1859
NPG D41647
by James Faed the Elder, published by Henry Graves & Co, after John Faed
mezzotint, published 1859
NPG D41648
by Charles Henry Jeens, published by Henry Graves & Co, after Edward William John Hopley
stipple and line engraving, published 15 August 1861
NPG D41663
by and published by Day & Son, after Martin Droeshout
lithograph, published 9 April 1864 (1623)
NPG D40736
published by Friedrich Bruckmann, after Wilhelm Lindenschmit the Younger
photographic print, 1864 or after
NPG D46392
published by Friedrich Bruckmann, after Wilhelm Lindenschmit the Younger
lithograph, 1864 or after
NPG D46393
Hero v. Bard (William Shakespeare; Giuseppe Garibaldi)
by Unknown artist
wood engraving, published by Fun 1864
NPG D13122
by Sir George Scharf, after Unknown artist
pencil, 29 April 1871
NPG D41915
by Charles William Sherborn
line engraving, 1876
NPG D21186
William Shakespeare ('Gower Memorial')
by Douglas James McNeille, after Lord Ronald Charles Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
albumen print, (1888)
NPG D41661
after Unknown sculptor, after Gerard Johnson
photographic print, early 20th century
NPG D42285
published by The Teacher's World, after a portrait associated with John Taylor
relief halftone, published 11 April 1917
NPG D48663
Unknown man called William Shakespeare
after Unknown artist
albumen print, before 1919?
NPG D41644
issued by Sarony & Co, after John Taylor
gravure cigarette card, 1923 (circa 1600-1610)
NPG D48918
William Shakespeare ('Shakespeare's Birthplace Stratford Upon Avon')
by Unknown artist, for British Railways
poster, 1948
NPG D48065
Queen Elizabeth II; William Shakespeare (on verso)
after Harry Norman Eccleston, after William Kent
steel engraved currency note, 1970-1991
NPG D48662
William Shakespeare ('William Shakespeare Lego Minifigure')
by Unknown artist
moulded plastic Lego figure, 2014
NPG D48054
William Shakespeare ('Shakespeare Duck')
by Unknown artist
moulded plastic, 2018
NPG D48052
William Shakespeare ('Shakespeare Pill Box')
by Unknown artist
metal pill box, 2018
NPG D48053
by William Walker & Sons, after Isaac Jaggard, and Edward Blount, after Martin Droeshout
albumen carte-de-visite, 1862-1866 (1623)
NPG Ax9927
Unknown gentleman, possibly Sir Thomas Overbury, previously known as William Shakespeare
by Richard Earlom, after Unknown Anglo-Netherlandish artist
mezzotint, (circa 1610)
NPG D4208
by John Godefroy, published by William Richardson
line engraving, published 28 March 1796
NPG D19488
by Richard Austin Artlett, after a painting attributed to John Taylor
line and stipple engraving, circa 1850-1873 (circa 1610)
NPG D19482
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